and some by virtue fall; Gallows

[Gallows]

Dear, dear silly boy. If I were going to stage a coup it would be successful, else I wouldn't attempt it at all. There are, after all, some certainties in life. And I feel no need to reach out for the throne. The Valley is always here. She is indifferent to who rules her. Someday I might enter her embrace once more, but for now I am content to worship from the crowd. See how I can turn laziness into a virtue? Kushiel still has so much to learn. And yet, as I look at my boy, I have no doubt he has the capacity to escalate lack of ambition to new heights. "Of course you'd be there. I'd need a useless but pretty prince to keep around and distract the ladies." I grin wickedly. Kushiel is a lot of things but he isn't useless, and he won't need to read my mind to know that. But I can't let my pleasure in him go to his head. Ah, the plight of an only child. Perhaps he needs an annoying little brother or sister to harass him and keep him humble. Heavens knows I haven't achieved any level of humility. "Gods, I wish you would." I interject, responding to his thought about setting Demian on fire. It certainly would add some interest around here. Horses would come from all over to see the flaming monarch. My next words are practically a snarl, "If he preached world peace you know I wouldn't let that stand." After all, if he remembers my long and boring history, I did capture a goody two shoes king named Spectrum once because I was bored and also I wanted to piss off his family. And this in the midst of supposed peace talks. I couldn't let peace happen. Do you know how dreadfully dreary that is? So Queen Straia is funny, is she? Silly boy, he ought to know I'd find that a wonderful recommendation. It's easy to be evil and dark and twisted. Having a sense of humor while doing so is double the fun. Still, I'll let Kushiel keep his illusion of privacy. I am a good mother, after all. "She sounds perfectly equipped to handle your particular brand of trouble, darling. But do be sure to stretch her limits. Everyone needs to grow, you know." And truth be told, Kushiel knows he can run to me if he fucks things up too badly. What else is a mind reading, immortal mother for, anyways? G A L L O W S We must all hang together or, assuredly, we shall all hang separately.